Background*

Dr. Steven J. Mento, Ph.D., Co-founded Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc. in 2005 and has been its Chief Executive Officer and President since July 2005. Dr. Mento has over twenty years of combined experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, ten of which served as President and Chief Executive Officer. Dr Steven served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of IDUN Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from August 1997 to 2005. Dr. Mento joined Idun in 1997. From 1982 ... to 1992, he held various positions at American Cyanamid Company. His last position was Director of Viral Vaccine Research and Development at Lederle-Praxis Biologicals, a business unit of American Cyanamid Company. In January 1992, he joined Viagene Inc. as Vice President of Research and Development. Dr. Mento was responsible for directing the American Cyanamid's transition from basic research through initiation of the first company sponsored Phase I and Phase II clinical trials in the emerging field of gene therapy. He served as President of Chiron Viagene Inc. and Vice President of Chiron Corporation until August 1997. As President, he had overall responsibility for gene therapy research, product development, QA/ QC, GMP manufacturing as well as general administration functions at Chiron Viagene. Dr Steven served as a Research Assistant Professor of Medicine and Microbiology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine from 1980 to 1982 before commencing his career in industry. He has been Chairman of Hawaii Biotech, Inc. since April 2007 and has been its Director since December 14, 2006. Dr. Steven served as the Chairman of Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc since July 2005. He has been a Director of Sangamo Biosciences Inc. since May 24, 2005. Dr Steven serves as a Director of Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc. He serves as a Director of Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO). Dr. Mento serves on the Boards of BIOCOM, BIO Emerging Company Section Governing Body, Grannus BioSciences, UCSD-Division of Biological Sciences Board of Advisors, SDSU BioScience Center Scientific Advisory Board, and UCSD Bannister Family House. He served as a Director of IDUN Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from August 1997 to 2005. From 1986 to 1992, he was a Member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Consultative Group on Poliomyelitis Vaccines. In October 1995, Chiron Corporation acquired Viagene Inc., and renamed American Cyanamid as Chiron Viagene Inc. Dr. Mento holds Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science, and Ph.D. degrees in Microbiology from Rutgers University. He did his post-doctoral fellowship in somatic cell genetics at the University of Toronto.

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